Intel Core i3-3250 vs Intel Core 2 Duo E6540

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3250 and Intel Core 2 Duo E6540 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i3-3250

Intel Core 2 Duo E6540

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-3250

A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 65 nm
Around 18% lower typical power consumption: 55 Watt vs 65 Watt
Around 90% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1840 vs 969
3x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2439 vs 808

Specifications (specs)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 65 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt vs 65 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1840 vs 969
PassMark - CPU mark	2439 vs 808

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Duo E6540

Around 10% higher maximum core temperature: 72°C vs 65.3°C

Maximum core temperature	72°C vs 65.3°C

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-3250
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Duo E6540

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1840

969

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2439

808

Name	Intel Core i3-3250	Intel Core 2 Duo E6540
PassMark - Single thread mark	1840	969
PassMark - CPU mark	2439	808
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	664
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1438
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	41.201
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	1444
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	1444

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-3250	Intel Core 2 Duo E6540
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Conroe
Launch date	Q2'13	Q3'07
Place in performance rating	2213	2231
Processor Number	i3-3250	E6540
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.50 GHz	2.33 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	1333 MHz FSB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	65 nm
Maximum core temperature	65.3°C	72°C
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4
Die size		143 mm2
Transistor count		291 million
VID voltage range		0.8500V-1.5V
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600
Graphics
Device ID	0x152
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.05 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 2500
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1155	PLGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt	65 Watt
Thermal Solution	2011C
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	2.0
PCIe configurations	up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
FSB parity
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)